Latching device



March f5, 1929.

. E. A. coNAwAY LATCHING DEVICE Fied Ma y 9. 1927 3 ShetS-Shee l,

March 5, 1929. E A, CQNAWAY 1,704,558

` LATCHING DEVICE Filed May 9. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet.l 2

' H7- 7'0 RNE):

March 5, 1929. E. A. coNAwAY 1,704,558

LATCHING DEVICE Filed May 9, 1927 @Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar.. y5,1929.

UNITE@ Meiste Y vl" TME..

EST A. CONAWAY, 0F LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, ASSGNOR TO JEAN H. ONAWAY,

OF CLAYTON, MESSOURI.

LATCI-IING DEVICE.

Application filed May 9, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in Alatching devices, orfastening devices. One of the objects is to produce adevice of this kindincluding a seal-rupturing and exciding member coperating with a seal teretain the latching means in its latched condition. ln the preferredtorni of the invention, the act oli unlatching the device forces therupturing member into the seal, so as to make an excision therein.

A further object is to produce a seal. holder adapted to securely holdthe seal during vthe rupturing operation, and to also securely hold theportion of the seal remaining after the excision has been made. YAnother object is to latch the seal holder and to so conne the seal thatit cannot be removed or displaced without operating the rupturing andexciding member.

Another object is to utilize a simple and inexpensive sealing elementclearly exposed to show 'the condition of the seal. In the previerredform of the invention the seals are understood that theinventioncomprehends v changes, variations and modifications which come withinthe scope of the claims hereunto appended.

To illustrate one form of the invention I have shown a latching deviceprovided with a seal holder in the iorm of a hinged door, and arupturing member adapted *o puncture the seal during` the unlatchingoperation. l have also shown how this rupturing men'iber may cooperatewith a shearing element to cut out und remove or eXcide a portion of theseal.

Fig. l is a front elevation of a latching device embodying; thelfeatures oit this ihren Serial No. 189,984.

tion, showing a portion of a door adapted to be latched and sealed bythe device` f Fig. 2 is a top view of the structure shown by Fig. l,with some of the parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, showing a hinge connecting theseal holder toa support. p

Fig. l is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4 4 in Fig. 5illustrating a portion 'of the seal holder, and showing the seal securedthereto.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the latching device, with the seal holder inits open position.

Fig. 6 a det-ail view of the seal.

Fig. 7 is a section taken approximately on the line 7 7 in FiO. 5.

Fig` 8 is a section taken 'approximately on the line 8 8 in Fig.2,showing a hook and lever interloclred with a support.

F ig. 9 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 9 9 inFig. `l showing the latching device in its latched condition.

Fig. l0 is a view similar to Fig. 9 illustrating the manner in which theseal-rupturing member is moved to puncture the seal at the beginning ofthe unlatching operation.

Fig. 1l isa view similar to Figures 9 and 10 suggesting the manner inwhich the rupturing device removes a portion of the seal.

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary view showing one of the guide ribs and a stopmember on the support in which the latching device is slidably mounted.

Fig. 13 Aillustratesl one side of the slidable member adapted to engagethe rib and stop shown by Fig. 12. n

To illustrate one form or" the invention l haveshown a portion ot' acardoor l (Fig ures l and 2) and portion of the pest or abutment 2 at oneside of the opening to be closed by the door.

The latching elements herein shown include a'lever A havingafulcrumi'ormed by a pin 3 and a roller lcarried by the pin, as shown inFigures l and 2. The lever has a handle '5 at one end and an arm 6extending upwardly at the` other end. An arm B is jpivotedat v7 to theupper end of the lever arm 6, and the free end of said arm B providedwith a hookv 8 adapted to interlock with a lug 9, as shown most clearlyin Fit-3. The lever side edges.

A is provided with an aperture 5a to receive a lug 10, as shown inFigures 3 and 9.

Before describing the latching elements which cooperate with the lever Ato secure both the lever and the arm B, lf will refer to the means forsecuring these elements to the door. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a plate11 secured t0 the door 1 and having a slot 12 to receive the roller lwhich forms part of the tulcrum of the lever. The slot 12 extendsdownwardly at its ends, as shown at 13 in Fig. 1, and the roller 4 maybe latched in either end 01"' this slot. llhen the roller is latehed asshown in Figures 1 and 2, the door is entirely closed, but when theroller is hitched in the opposite end et the slot, the door is open farenough to provide ventilation, without giving access to the contents otthe car.

The lugs 9 and 10 .which interlock with the lever A and hool 8 (Fig. 3)are formed on a support which includes a vertical web lll having flanges15 extending forwardly from its An attaching web 16 2) eX- tendsrearwardly from the web 14- to receive jfastening device 17. 18designates reinforcing webs extending from the web 16 to the web 14.

Each flange 15 is provide-don its inner tace with a vertical guide rib19 (Figures 5, 7 and 12), and a vertically movable latching element orlatch bolt 20 is slidably mounted between the flanges 15, said latchingelement being grooved to receive the ribs 19, as shown by Figures and13. A stop member 21 eX- vtends from one of the flanges 15 andcooperates with shoulders 22' on the latching element 2O to limit theifertical motion of said latching element.

A latching linger 23, at the lower end of the slidable latching element20, is adapted to extend 'through lugs 10 and 24, as shown by Figures 5and 9, for the purpose of securing the lever A. on the lug 10. Thelatching linger 23 also secures a seal holder, as will be hereafterdescribed.

To illustrate one form of the invention l have shown a seal holder D inthe form of a door secured to one ot the flanges 15 by means et avertical `hinge pin 25 which passes through a lug 26 on the door andalso through lugs 27 on the :tlange 15. i

The seal E is shown in Figs. 1. 4,' 5, 6, 9, 10 and l1. lt is preferablymade of sheet 1nal terial, such as wmrther-noof paper, er otherinexpensive material ladapted to be easily punctured in unlatching thedevice. The seal shown n'iost clearly by Fig. 6 is provided withabutment should-ers 23 at its sides, and a hole, or aperture 29. Thelower portion of the seal cut away, or recessed. to form the shoulders23. The inner tace of the door D isprovided with lugs 30 and 3 1 adaptedto interlock with the seal. The lug 30 extends through the hole 29 inthe seal, while the lugs 31 lie below and contact with the abutmentshoulders 23 on the seal, so as to positively prevent downwardlydisplacement of the seal. These lugs also cooperate with the seal toprevent lateral displacement.

The upper portion oi the seal is held by an abutment 32 which may be inthe form of a spring secured at 33 and having a relatively tree loweredge to confine the seal, the upper margin of the seal being interposedbetween the spring 32' and the door D, as shown by Figures 5 and 9.

The door D is provided with openings 34 and 35 to expose the seal anddisclose the origin thereof. rl`he seal mayA be kprovided with a serialnumber exposed at the opening 34, as shown in Figure 1, and astation-indi eating number exposed at the opening 35. The serial numberherein shown is 1234567, and the station-indicating number is 17. Arelatively large portion oi the seal is exposed above the serial number,and I will hereafter describe the manner in which this portion of theseal is mutilated and excided in unlatching the device.

F designates a seal-rupturing member plvoted at 36 to the slidableelement 2O and having a relatively sharp upper edge 37 adapted to beVlorced through the seal E, as suggested by Fig. 10, and also adapted tocooperate with shearing edge 33 in cutting out and remova portion or theseal, as will be presently described.

lt is to be understood that the seal lies inside ci the door D, and thatsaid door is latched by means of the linger 23 which eX- tends throughlug 39 on the door, as shown by Fig. 9, yljhis lug 39 lies in thepath'of the lever A, so this lever cannot be removed from the lug lOuntil after the door D .is moved to` its open position.

9 illustrates the posit-ions of certain parts when the lever A. islatched and sealed. 'llo release the lever A, it is necessary to firstlitt the slidable latching element 20 tor the purpose oi reuioving thelatching linger 23 :from the lugs 10 and 39, and to then open the doorD.

l will now point out'the manner in which the seal may be automaticallyruptured and excided in response to the unlatching operation. When thede rice is latched, as shown by Fig. 9. the spring 32 lies directlyabove the seal-rupturing member F, and when the slid, able member 2O ismoved upwardly, the member F will contact with the lower edge of thespring, and the latter serving to'dellect the sharp upper edge ci thenien'ibei.' F into the seal, :is suggested by Fi 10, thereby puncturtheseal at the beginning of the unlatch- N operation. During the continuedupward movement of the slidable member 20, the puncturing member F turnson the pivot 36 and its sharp edge 37 cooperates with the shearing edge38 on the slidable member 20. so as to cut out and remove or eXcide aperl lll) tion of the seal, as suggested by Fig. l1. During theunlatching operation, the puncturiiig member F moves from the positionshown in Fig. 9 to the rposition shown in Fig. lO and then to theposition shown in Fig. l1, with the result of exciding a relativelylarge portion of the seal. The act of unlatching the device thus forms alarge hole iii the portion of the seal exposed at the opening 34, thehole being formed above the serial number. It will be seen that theorigin of the seal may be determined both before and after the excisionis made.

The seal is securely held during this puncturing and severing orexciding operation. The downward thruston the seal is resisted by thelugs 30 and 31 which are interlocled with the low-er portion of theseal, and the seal is also held at the top by means of the spring 82,the latter being forced onto the seal by pressure transmitted from thepuncturing member F.

In addition to being secured by the elements just referred to, the sealis contined by flanges 4l at the sides of the door. The seal is alsoconfined between the inner face of the door and the flanges l5 on thesupport to which the door is hinged.

The vertically movable latching element 2() is provided with a groove 42(Figures 5 and 9) to receive the lug 30 which extends through the seal.The flanges l5 are notched at 43 (Figures 5 and 12) to receive the lugs3l which engage the abutment shoulders on the seal.

Under some conditions, one may desire to apply an ordinary sealingdevice to the latching element, and one of the flanges l5 is thereforeprovided with a lug 44 (Figures l and 8) having a slot 45 to receive asealing member 46 shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. A loop 47 is formedintegral with and extends upwardly from the slidable element 20 to serveas a handle and also to receive the sealing element 46 which appears inFig. l.

rIhe loop 47 may be engaged and forced upwardly for the purpose ofunlatching the device., but I have shown that the unlatching operationcan be more easily performed. 48 designates an unlatchingmember in theform of a rod arranged vertically below the latching finger 23, andslidably mounted in a holder 49 formed integral with the door B. Themember 48 has a head 50 at its upper end adapted to strike the bottom ofthe latchiiig linger 23, and a disk 51 at its lower end which is struckby the operator and forced upwardly during the unlatchiiig operation.

The station number which appears at the opening 35 in Fig. l is stampedon the seal at the station where the car is sealed so as to indicate thepoint of origin of the seal at all times, and the absence of a number,or other station-indicating element, would show a dofect in the seal.However, the ordinary defeet lies 'in the large opening which is formedby the automatic eizciding device, and it is obvious that a sealmutilated with an excisionV in this manner cannot be restored to appearas a perfect seal.

The 'seal rupturing member F is pivotally supported at 36, but its pivotmotion is limited by a member 52 on the lat-ching element 20, as shownin Fig. 1l, which serves to limit the motion in one direction. 1When'themember F occupies the normal position shown by Fig.

9, its lower end is relatively heavy,- and the' edge 38 on the latchingelement 2O limits the forward motion Yof this lower end. In latching thedevice, the slidable latching element 20 is forced downwardly relativeto the spring 32, and this spring will yield sucien'tly to allow theupper edge of the puncturing member F to pass from a position above thethis position the hook 8 cannot be removed from the lug 9. Therefore,the operation of latchiiig the lever also latches the hook.

ln opening the door, the lever A is moved downwardly, thereby movingthek arm B and its hook 8 to the left from the position shown by Figures1 and 8. The hook 8 is thus forced onto the flange l5 at the left sideof Fig. 8, and a continued downward motion of the lever A will thenimpart the initial. impulse in opening the door.

The seal holder D is supported by the hinge pin 25, and as previouslyindicated, the lower .portion of this seal holder is latclied in thepath of the lever A (Fig. 9), so the hinged door which Vforms this sealholder must` be opened before the lever can be released from the' lugl0. When this hinged door, or seal holder, is moved to its extreme openposition lli() it may be held in a manner which l will now i describe,to prevent swinging about the axis of the hinge and also to retain saiddoor in a position near the side of the car where it is not likely tostrike any object near the course of the car. To illustrate this featureI have shown a lug 55 (Figures 1,3 and at the bottom of the hinge member26 on the door, and a recess 56 in the lower hinge member 27 adapted toreceive said-.lug 55. -l/Vhen the door. or seal holder, D is moved tothe open position shown by Fig. 5, the lug 55 enters the recess, saiddoor being free to drop by gravity in a line parallel with the airis ofthe hinge, so as to locate the lug in the recess. The Ydoor D is thuslatched in itsopeii position, but it can be easily closed by lifting thedoor to withdra'wthe lug 55 from the recess 56, and then moving saiddoor about the axis oi its hinge.

Fig. 11 shows a portion 40 excided trom the seal E, and this portion ispermitted to drop Vfrom the bottom of the support in ivnich the latchingelement 20 is mounted., Fig. 8 shovvs that the lugs l0 and 2e do notclose the bottom of this support.

I claim:

l. .ln a latch provided with a seal, a latching member, a eal-rupturing`member cooperating' with the seal te retain said latching;w member inits hitched position. both of said members being` movable to unlatcbsaid latching` member, seal in the path oit said rnpturing member, and aseal holderv latching device and having an upper adapted to enter theal, said springj` be in the path of` said pnncturing member to directits upper edge into the seal, and saidv latching device being provided`with a shearing edge adapted to cooperate with said upper edge insevering a portion of the seal.

3. A latch comprising a support provided. with a vertical guide, a leveradapted to interlock With said support, a hook pivoted to sz id leverand also adapted to interlock with said support, a latching` deviceslidable in said `guide and having a latching men'iber cooperating` withsaid lever to latch both the lever and hook, aholder comprisin doorhinged to said support and having` a opening to expose the seal, saiddoor havin; lugs on its inner tace adapted to interlocl with the sealand a sprino' to hold the upper portion ot the seal, a seai-puneturingmember pivoted Vto said ,Clida-ble device and having kan upper eradapted to enter the s mi, said sprinw l" ,3' ath ot said puncturingmember so as to lt said upper edge into the seal.. id slidable devicehavingr a. shearing edge adapted to cooperate with said upper edgre in.severing a portion oit the seal, and said slidffible device beinelprovided with stops to limit the pivotal motion ot said sealpuncturino'member. l

4. A latch comprising' a support, a dooroperating' lever adapted tointerlock with said support, an arm pivoted to said and also adapted tointerlock with said. support,

a latching device movable in said support and having latching` means tosecure said arm and lever, and a seal holder hinged t-o said support andlatched by said latching means, a portion of said 'seal holder being inthe path et said lever to prevent release oiz -the lever While theseal-holder is closed.

5. A latch comprising` a support, a dooroperatingv lever adapted. tointerlock With said support, an arm pivoted to said lever and alsoadapted to interlock with said support, a bitching device movable insaid support and having latchingrneans to secure said arm and lever, aseal holder hinged to said Support and latched by said latcbing means, aportion ot said seal holder being in the path et' said loi/*er toprevent release oic the lever While the seal-holder is closed, said sealholder being` movable to an open position at one side ot said support,and means to latch the holder in said open position,-

G. Tn a device oit the hind described, a latch provi ed with a seal, alatching;f element, a seal holder secured by said latching` element, andan. excidine' member, adapted to cut out Aemove a portion of the seal,cooperating ivirn said seal to secure said latehingv element.

7, ln a device oir the kind described, a latch provided with a seal, alat-ching` element, a seal holder secured by said latchingv element,anexcidin member, adapted to cut out and remove a portion of the seal,connected to said latchinp; element, and means for engaging saidexcidingmember With the seal.

8. ln a device of the lrind described, a latch provided with a seal, alatchingelement, a seal holder secured by said latching element, anexciding member, adapted to cut out and remove a portion of the seal,cooperating ivith the seal to secure said latching element, and anabutment adapted to direct said eX- cidf. member' into the seal.

9. ln a device or the kind described, a latch provided with a seal, alatching; element, a seal holder comprising a closure securedl by .aidlateninp; element, and an exciding member` adapted to cut out and removea portion ot the seal, connected to said latching element.

l0. ln a latch provided With a seal, a latchine element, a separateoperating member adapted to unla tch said latching elemenbvand a sealexeiding' device driven by said operating; member and adapted to cut outand remove a portion oill the seal before the latchirri;` element isnnlatched.

il. In a latch provided With a seal i -ade oi sheet material, sealholder interloclred with said sheet material., a latehinp; member, and aseal-mntilatino' h device including;r an excidine; member, adapted toout ont and remove a portion of said sheet material, cooperating withsaid sheet material to retain the latchingr member in its latchedposition, both oil said movable independently of llO seal holder tounlatch said latching member, and said sheet material being in the pathot said, eXciding member.

12. ln a latch provided With a seal, a latching element, and aseal-mutilating device cooperating With said seal to secure saidlatching element, said seal-inutilatiiig device including a puncturingmember adapted to be forced through the seal, and a severing membercooperating with said punctui'ing member to cut out and remove a portionot the seal.

13. In a latch provided With a seal, a latching element, and aseal-excidinfij device cooperating with said seal to sec: e saidlatching element, said seal excidiiig device including a punctiiringmeii'iber adapted to be forced through the seal, a severing membercooperating with said puncturing member to cut out and remove a portionoi the seal, and a seal holder interloclied with the seal to prevent4displacement of the same alter it is eX- cided.

14. In a latch provided with a seal, a latching element, and a seal-ezcicliiig device cooperating with said seal to secure said latchingelement, said seal-exciding device including a puncturing member adaptedtoV be forced through the seal, a severing member cooperating with saidpuncturing member to cut out and remove a portion of the seal, and aseal holder interlocled Wit-h the seal to prevent displacement of thesame While it is eX- cided, said seal holder having a projectionextending through the seal, and abutment shoulders engaged by the seal,said projection and said shoulders securing the seal during and afterthe excision.

15. ln a latch provided with a seal, a latching` member, a seal-excidingmember, adapted to cut out and remove a portion of the seal, cooperatingWith the seal to retain said latching member in its latched position,both of said members being movable to unlatch said latching member, theseal being in the path of said exciding member, and a seal holderinterloclred with the seal to prevent displacement of the seal duringand after the exciding operation.

16. ln a latch provided with a seal, a latching member, a seal-eXciding`member, adapted to make an excision in the seal, cooperating with theseal to retain said latching member in its latched position, both ofsaid members being movable to unlatch said lat-ching inember, the sealbeing in the path of said exciding. member, and a seal holder comprisinga closure interlocled with the seal to confine the seal during and afterthe excision.

17. ln a latch provided with a seal, a latchmember, a seal-excidingmember cooperating With the seal to retain said latchingmem-` ber in itslatched position, both of said members being` movable to unlatch saidlatching member, the seal being in the path oisaid exciding member, aseal holder comprising a hinged closure interlocked with the seal andsecured by the latching element, and means *for latching said closure inits open position.

18. ln a latch provided With a seal, a latching member, a seal-excidingmember cooperating -with the seal to retain said latching member in itslatched position, both of said members being movable to unlatch saidlatching member, the seal being in the path of said exciding member, aseal holder comprising a closure whereby the seal is confined, means onthe closure securing the portion of the seal remaining alter theexcision, and an abut-ment on said closure adapted to direct saidezreiding member into the seal as the latching member is moved to itsvunlatched position.

19. ln a device off the kind described, a latch provided with a sealhaving identifying indicia, a. latching element, a riipturing niember,adapted to rupture the seal, cooperating With the seal to secure saidlatching element, and a seal holder having two apertures associated withthe seal, one aperture exposing said indicia, and the other aperturebeing in the path of said rupturing member.

20. ln a latch provided with a seal, a latchingl element, and aseal-eXciding member driven by said latching element and adapted to cutout and remove a portion of said seal, said portion of the seal being inthe path ot' the exciding member and another portion oi? the seal beingprovided With indicia indentitying the seal.

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing l hereunto aliix my signature.

ERNEST A. CGNAVVAY.

